Weeder and stalk-cutter.



No. 874,867. Y PATENTED DEG. v24, 1907.

H. RICHELDERPER. v

WEEDEE AND STALK CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19. 1907.

W/TNESSES INVENTOH ATTORNEYS YHE Nmems PETERS cc, wAsmNoroN. n. cA

WMM/rf HENRY RICHELDERFER, OF WASGO, OREGON.

WEEDR AND STALK-CUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24, 1907.

Application filed June 19, 1907. Serial No. 379,733-

To all whom it may concerml Be it known that 1, HENRY RIOHELDERFER, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of /Vasco, in the county ofSherman and State of Oregon, have invented a new and Improved Weeder andStalk-Cutter, of which the following is a full, clear, and eXactdescription.

This invention relates to weeders, and more particularly to that classof weeders adapted to be used as stalk cutters.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, strong and efficientweeder and stalk cutter presenting blades of suitable form for cuttingthe stalks of weeds and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the classdescribed having a truck, independent members mounted behind said truck,and provided with drums presenting helical blades for cutting the stalksof weeds and the like.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a weeder and stalkcutter having means for rapidly severing the stalks of weeds and thelike, while at the same time suitably working the surface of the soilfor certain agricultural purposes.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts tobe more particularly described hereinafter and fully set forth in theclaims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis speciiication, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is a sideelevation of my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view; and Fig. 3is a cross-section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Before proceeding to a more detailed eX- pl anation of my invention, itshould be clearly understood that it is intended for use,

primarily, as a weeder, being adapted to be drawn by horses or othersuitable means over the surface of the ground, and having drums arrangedto travel upon the ground and presenting cutting blades to sever thestalks of the weeds. The cutting blades are of a form which I have foundpeculiarly useful for this purpose. They project beyond the peripheriesof the drums, and owing to the weight are forced a suitable distanceinto the ground, whereby the weeds are severed below the surface. Thearrangement is such that the drums and blades as they travel upon theground work up the latter to form what may be termed a dust mulch. Aplurality of cutting attachments, preferably four, are carried by eachstalk cutter. Each cutting attachment comprises two drums of di'erentdiameters and rigidly mounted upon a rotatable shaft. As the drums arerigid with respect to one another and are of dierent diameters, asliding or scraping action partly results when the cutting attachmentstravel upon the ground; this action assists in the thorough working ofthe surface soil.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 represents a truck memberor beam, to which is secured near the center a tongue 2 having a draftmechanism 3 by means of which the draft animals are attached to thedevice. The tongue 2 is secured to the truck by means of a suitablebracket 45 At each end the truck beam is mounted u on wheels or rollers5 which are arrange to travel upon the vsurface of the ground. Asuitable seat 6 for the operator is mounted upon the truck, preferablynearthe center to insure the equal distribution of the Weight. At therear edge, the truck beam l has a plurality of projecting brackets 7securely mounted upon the beam by means of bolts 8. The brackets 7 haveintegral eyes 9 and thereabove flanges 10 for a purpose which willappear hereinafter.

The cutting attachments, which are preferably four in number, comprise asuitable shaft 11 having near the ends rigid drums 12 and 13; the drums12 are smaller in diameter than the drums 13. Arms 14 having eyes 15 arepivoted at the ends of the shafts by means of the eyes 15 and are heldin position by suitable nuts 16. .At the opposite ends, the arms 14 havehooks 17 which engage the eyes 9 of the brackets 7, to secure thecutting attachments to the truck. The flanges 10 serve to prevent theaccidental displacement of the hooks 17 from the eyes 9. The arms 14serve as links, by means of which the cutting attachments are trailed tothe trucks, the eyes 15 of the arms acting as bearings for the shafts11.

The drums 12 and 13 have radial recesses or slots 18. The arrangement issuch that the slots of one of the drums are arranged intermediate of theslots of the other of the drums. Cutting blades 19 are located in theslots of the drums 12 and 13, extending from one to the other of thespaced drums. The

cutting blades 19 project beyond the peripheries of the drums and haveouter cutting edges 20. As the radial recesses are in different lanesand at an angle with each other, each b ade assumes the form of a helixor a helical convolute. In addition to the partial sliding or scrapingactionresulting from the rolling movement of the cutting attach; mentupon the ground, the helical form of the blades further effects athorough working of the surface soil. By having a plurality of trailingcutting attachments hinged to the truck, the flexibility of theimplement is increased and the device is little affected byirregularities in the surface of the ground.

It will be understood that my invention can be fashioned from varioussuitable materials. I prefer to use cast iron for certain of the parts,such as the brackets and drums, while the blades should be of steel. Thedrums, if so desired, may be of different sizes, for Vit will beunderstood that it may be of advantage to provide the cuttingattachments with the corresponding drums of different diameters, and ifrequired the dimensions of the parts can be altered to suit conditionsand circumstances. The seat for the operator can also be mounted uponthe cutting attachments whereby the weight of the latter is increasedand consequently the same work up lthe soil more thoroughly.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. In a device of the class described, drums ofdifferent sizes arranged to travel upon the ground and having a commonprojecting cutting blade arranged at an angle with the longitudinal axesof said drums and carried at the peripheries of said drums.

2. In a device of the class described, drums of different diametersrigidly connected and arranged to travel upon the ground, said drumshaving a common projecting cutting blade of helical form carried at theperipheries of said drums.

3. In a device of the class described, a shaft having drums of differentsizes arranged to travel upon the ground, and cutting blades projecting'beyond the peripheries of said drums, said blades being disposed at anangle to said shaft.

4. In a device of the class described, a shaft having drums of differentdiameters 5. In a device of the class described, av

shaft, spaced drums rigid with said shaft and arranged to travel uponthe ground, said `drums being of dierent diameters and having radialrecesses, said recesses of one of said drums being arranged intermediateof the recesses of the other of said drums, and cutting blades arrangedin said recesses, said blades projecting beyond the peripheries of saiddrums.

6. In a device of the class described, a shaft, spaced drums rigid withsaid shaft and arranged to travel upon the ground, said drums being ofdifferent diameters and having radial recesses, said recesses of one ofsaid drums being arranged in advance of the recesses of the other ofsaid drums, and cutting blades extending from one to the other of saiddrums and arranged in said recesses, said blades projecting beyond theperipheries of said drums and being helical in form.

7. In a device of the class described, a truck, a plurality of shafts,each of said shafts having drums of different diameters arranged totravel upon the ground, pivoted arms connecting said shafts and saidtruck, and cutting blades mounted upon said drums and projecting beyondthe peripheries thereof, said blades being helical in form.

S. In a device of the class described, a plurality of shafts, spaceddrums rigid with each of said shafts and arragned to travel upon theground, arms mounted upon said shafts and pivotally secured to saidtruck, said drums of each of said shafts being of different diametersand having radial recesses, 'said recesses of one of said drums of eachshaft being arranged in advance of the recess of the other of said drumsof the same shaft, and cutting blades arranged in said recesses andprojecting beyond the peripheries of said drums, said blades beinghelical in form.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY RICHELDERFER.

Vitnesses:

C. J. BRIGHT, C. A. Armas.

